2 nights in Munich Pre Cruise

Overview:

Munich is southern Germany’s celebrated center of culture. All things Bavarian converge in its grand and sprawling 12th-century main town square, the Marienplatz. Linger a while in Munich’s famous outdoor beer gardens, enjoying a stein or two as the rhythmic beat of oompah music washes over you.

ALL THIS IS INCLUDED:

• 2 hotel nights in Munich (as shown or similar)

• 2 meals: 2 breakfasts (B)

• Services of a Viking Host

• All transfers

Pre Cruise Itinerary

Day 1 - Munich, Germany

Arrive in Munich and transfer to your hotel. Depending upon your arrival time, you may begin getting acquainted with Bavaria’s historic capital on your own. A Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Munich so you can make the most of your visit.

Day 2 - Munich, Germany

After breakfast, you will have the full day to explore the city on your own; perhaps walk through the Marienplatz, the city’s historic main square. Here, you can see the iconic Glockenspiel, whose 32 life-size figurines reenact two 16th-century stories for passersby each day at 11:00 AM and noon.

Day 3 – Munich, Germany

After breakfast, continue your exploration of Munich. Perhaps visit the Viktualienmarkt to experience the gastronomic joy of a gourmet market renowned for its diversity and size. Or, explore the Munich Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria. In the afternoon, transfer to Oberammergau to begin your cruisetour. (B)

Your Hotel:

All hotels are chosen for their proximity to local sites, English-speaking staff and overall guest experience. Each includes the assistance of an on-site Viking Host or a Viking Tour Director for fully escorted programs. At the time of booking, a room will be reserved for you, with the exact hotel confirmed 6 months prior to your departure.

Cruise Itinerary

Day 1: Oberammergau, Germany

Arrive and check in to your hotel. Also known as “Upper Ammer Vale,” Oberammergau enjoys a stunning setting in a scenic alpine valley in southern Bavaria. The quaint village is best known for its production of the Passion Play, which depicts the trial, suffering and death of Christ. Its once-per-decade staging fulfills a promise that citizens made to God in 1633 after, according to legend, He answered their prayers and spared them from the plague. The tradition continues today and it is a great honor for Oberammergau’s residents to be a part of this powerful, dramatic performance. 

Day 2: Oberammergau, Germany

The charming hamlet of Oberammergau has long been a center of wood carving and is home to the Bavarian State Wood Carving School, attracting young apprentices from far and wide to learn this centuries-old art form. Intricate carvings of village life inside walnut shells are popular here and grace the shelves of many of the town’s gift shops. Frescoes of fairy-tale or religious scenes and architectural trompe l’oeil—realistic paintings on building fac 

Included:
Passionsspiele, the Passion Play

Duration: 9 hours 30 minutes 

Culture, Meal, Easy

Oberammergau’s Pledge and the Story of Christ

Take a seat for a performance of Passionsspiele, the Passion Play. The play’s origins date back to 1633 when the Great Plague descended upon the village. After many lives were lost, the villagers made a promise to God that they would tell the story of Christ, should no more lives be lost. The tradition continues today and it is a great honor for Oberammergau’s residents to be a part of this powerful dramatic performance. Around 2,000 locals will bring the story to life in the town’s semicircular open air theater; performed every 10 years, 2030 will be the 43rd staging of the play. Witness a part of history during this unique performance and discover more about the townspeople’s dedication to this major event. The play begins in the afternoon and will include an intermission to enjoy a traditional Bavarian dinner at a local restaurant.

* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.

Day 3: Salzburg, Austria

After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Oberammergau and begin your transfer to Salzburg. The fourth-largest city in Austria, Salzburg is known for its great beauty and high baroque architecture. Its sweeping alpine surroundings, the setting for the film The Sound of Music, infuse its Old Town with an epic feel. The third highest-grossing movie  of all time in the US, The Sound of Music is based on the true story of the von Trapp family singers and their escape from Nazi-occupied Austria. This classic musical filled with iconic songs has remained a firm favorite across generations. 

Included:

Ettal Abbey

Duration: 7 hours      

Sightseeing, Easy

Visit One of the World’s Largest Benedictine Monasteries

Discover Ettal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery known for its baroque basilica and enduring monastic traditions. Check out of your hotel and travel along the base of the Bavarian Alps, passing through traditional villages as you journey to Salzburg. Along the way, stop to visit Ettal Abbey, a 14th-century structure that was founded by Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian. Walk through this impressive baroque masterpiece with your guide and see the intricate details of its painted ceiling. Learn about the abbey’s past as one of the most important monasteries in the alpine region. For centuries, the monastery’s monks have brewed their own beer and produced their own liquor using ingredients harvested from the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. After your exploration of the abbey, enjoy a lunch of local dishes before continuing your transfer through the scenic Bavarian landscape to Salzburg.

* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.

Day 4: Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose childhood home can still be seen here and whose tunes, along with those of Haydn, ring out from the city’s Glockenspiel. Mozart, the city’s most celebrated son, began composing at the age of five; regular performances of his timeless pieces can be heard throughout the city. Dominating the Old Town are the towering spires and copper domes of the 17th-century Salzburg Cathedral, a baroque masterwork containing the baptismal font in which Mozart was baptized. 

Included

Salzburg Walking Tour

Duration: 2 hours      

Sightseeing, UNESCO, Moderate

Witness High Baroque Style amid Alpine Splendor

Tour one of Austria’s most intimate and stunning cities up close, by foot. Begin with a visit to the Mirabell Gardens, a geometric Italianate gem built by the prince-archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau for his mistress and 15 children. Its elegant gardens are adorned with statues of mythological figures. Your guide will point out where scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed, including the famous “Do-Re-Mi” stairs. Then see the Geburtshaus, or birthplace, of Mozart, where you can marvel at some of his musical scores and his first violin. Continue to the Domplatz, admiring the city’s rich architecture along the way. Here you will find the Salzburg Cathedral, a baroque masterwork containing the baptismal font in which Mozart was baptized.

* Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.

Day 5: Salzburg, Austria

Beyond Salzburg’s renowned musical legacy lies a city where rich history and modern life blend seamlessly. Graceful arcades and narrow lanes wind past intricate guild signs that hint at the city’s centuries of skilled craftsmanship. Salzburg’s three hundred-year-old coffeehouse culture endures in establishments such as Café Tomaselli and Café Bazar, once gathering places for artists and intellectuals. In these cafés and historic inns, regional dishes like savory tafelspitz and sweet Salzburger Nockerl offer a taste of local tradition. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your transfer to Passau.

Included:

The Sound of Music

Duration: 7 hours      

Sightseeing, Moderate

See the Sights of The Sound of Music

Explore Salzburg and its surroundings as you visit some the iconic filming locations of The Sound of Music. One of the most beloved films in American cinema, this movie tells the story of a renowned singing family and their escape from Nazi-led Austria during World War II. Follow in the footsteps of this iconic movie through some of its most memorable filming locations. Board your motor coach and pass by the historic Nonnberg Abbey, where Maria’s story begins, then continue to Hellbrunn Palace to view the gazebo where Liesl and Rolf perform their duet. After, travel through Austria’s breathtaking lake district to St. Gilgen, its picturesque Alpine views seen in the film’s sweeping opening shots. Then, visit Mondsee and see St. Michael’s Basilica, the site of Maria and Baron von Trapp’s wedding.

* Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.

Passau, Germany

Founded by the Celts over 2,000 years ago, Passau is one of Bavaria’s oldest cities. Known as the “City of Three Rivers,” it rests at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube rivers. The city has long enjoyed its strategic position and grew to great economic and political power because of it. The legacy of its past prosperity lives on in graceful arcades, colorful houses with rococo facades and the glorious baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to one of Europe’s largest pipe organs. Passau is also where two nations meet; it is here that the German-Austrian border begins. Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. 

Day 6: Passau, Germany

The pride of Passau, the massive organ in the baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral is one of the largest outside the United States. As with most organs of its size, it grew gradually over centuries. Today, it actually comprises five separate organs that carry varied tonal qualities and attending a concert in its elegant cathedral setting is truly an uplifting experience. Outside the heart of the city lies rural Bavaria, with its picturesque rolling hills and verdant green pastures. Some of the region’s best-loved products are produced here, from its prized hams and sausages to its milk and delicious alpine cheeses.

Included:

Passau Walking Tour

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes      

Sightseeing, Shopping, Moderate

A Stroll Through an Elegant City Capped Off by Beautiful Music

Explore the Italianate-style streets of Passau, where three European rivers converge. Meet your local guide and begin your walking tour through delightful old-world streets, taking in a pastel rainbow of building facades as you stroll. You will see the impressive Bishops’ Residenz from which powerful prince-bishops ruled secular and religious life for hundreds of years. Continue past the 14th-century Rathaus, or Town Hall, built on the site of a former fish market on the Danube. Conclude your walk at the magnificent 17th-century St. Stephen’s Cathedral. This baroque wonder houses Europe’s largest pipe organ, with more than 17,000 pipes, and inspired Franz Liszt to write his Hungarian Coronation Mass. Enjoy free time to explore more of the city on your own before returning to your awaiting ship.

* Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.

Day 7: Linz, Austria

Originally known as Lentia in its days as a 1st-century Roman castle-settlement, Linz is today’s provincial capital of Upper Austria. The city’s famous Linzer Torte, the jam-filled cake topped with almonds, hails from here and can be found in any number of cafés. In the Old Town, narrow lanes lead to the Hauptplatz, once the largest town square in Austria. Handsome patrician houses, the 17th-century Town Hall and an impressive cathedral line the open space. The steepest mountain railway in Europe delivers visitors to Pöstlingberghill and its 18th-century pilgrimage church. 

Included:

Linz Walking Tour

Duration: 2 hours

Sightseeing, Easy

A Stroll Into This Influential Austrian City

Experience all the charms of this capital of Upper Austria during a walking tour. Founded by the Romans, Linz rose to prominence under the Hapsburg Empire. Today, it remains a vibrant cultural center. Set off on foot to explore the Danube’s south bank, passing the massive Brucknerhaus concert hall, named for the famed Austrian composer, and view the modern New Town Hall across the Danube. Continue to Linz Castle, considered the most beautiful museum in the province. In the Old Quarter, see the Market Hall, the Mozarthaus, where the composer wrote the Linz Symphony, the magnificent Renaissance Landhaus tower and the elegant facade of the Landestheater. At Hauptplatz, the city’s main square in the Old Quarter, you may step inside the New Cathedral if the church’s schedule allows and admire its ornate interior.

* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.

Day 8:

Scenic Sailing: Wachau Valley

Sail through a serene tapestry of terraced vineyards, forested slopes, charming towns and castle ruins in Austria’s Wachau Valley, celebrated as perhaps the most scenic stretch of the Danube. Journey 18 miles through this vast UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the river courses through picturesque hillsides. Gaze upon the prolific grapevines and quaint wine-producing villages hugging the shores—the legacy of vintners that stretch as far back as Celtic and Roman times and an echo of the more than 30 monasteries that served as vineyards in Renaissance days. 

Krems, Austria

A small university town at the eastern end of the Danube’s Wachau Valley, Krems is surrounded by terraced vineyards. In its heyday, during the 12th century, Krems held even more importance than Vienna for its iron, grain, salt and wine trade. As to the latter, the city has played a long and celebrated part in the popularity of the Wachau’s wine culture; the valley’s south slopes in Krems are bathed in sunlight all day and create some of the best Riesling and Veltliner wines in the world. The city’s cobblestone streets, taverns, wine bars and coffeehouses have a timeless appeal.

Day 9: Vienna, Austria

Renowned as the “City of Waltzes,” Austria’s capital city of Vienna is Europe’s center of classical music. Strauss and Mozart composed many of their finest pieces here. Vienna’s musical history is matched by the elegant, graceful architecture that lines the Ringstrasse, the wide boulevard encircling the Inner City. Baroque, neo-Renaissance, Gothic-Romanesque and other splendidly styled structures, from the Hofburg Palace to the Vienna State Opera, take the breath away with their grand facades. Vienna has a more intimate side too: inviting footpaths lead through green parks and its famed Viennese cafés sweeten any stay with coffee and the city’s delectable Sachertorte.

Included:

Panoramic Vienna

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes      

Sightseeing, UNESCO, Shopping, Easy

An Essential Overview of the “City of Waltzes”

See the magnificent architectural highlights of one of Europe’s most elegant and romantic cultural capitals. Vienna was the center of arts and intellect during the reign of the Habsburgs and beyond. Meet your guide and drive into the city for a motor coach and walking tour, focusing on the splendid buildings on the Ringstrasse, the gracious boulevard laid out on the site of the old city walls during the mid-19th century. Imposing palaces, elegant public buildings and grand residences line this world-famous avenue. See the magnificent Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Habsburgs and home of the Spanish Riding School with its Lipizzaner horses. Admire the Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, crowned with a gleaming spire and colorful roof tiles. And view the beautiful Vienna State Opera concert hall, its facade adorned with elaborate frescoes depicting Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute.

* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.

Day 10: Bratislava, Slovakia

The Slovakian capital of Bratislava is filled with lovingly restored baroque city palaces and leafy squares. The Little Carpathians rise steeply in the north and the enormous hrad (“castle”) perches 300 feet above the Danube, lending the city a picturesque setting. Below the castle, the Old Town boasts elegant mansions, art nouveau houses and gracious pedestrian zones. Eleven Hungarian kings and eight queens were crowned in St. Martin’s Cathedral, today a concert hall that plays a central role in the city’s rich cultural offerings.

Day 11: Budapest, Hungary

Riverside beauty and a vibrant cultural scene blend together in Budapest to form one of Europe’s most rewarding cities. Hungary’s enchanting capital straddles the banks of the Danube, with traditional hillside Buda on one side and modern Pest on the other. By day, stunning art nouveau buildings, stalwart castles and grand palaces set the stage for inspiring strolls and long soaks in thermal spas. By night, the shimmering lights of the Parliament building dance across the waters of the Danube, the Chain Bridge uniting it all as a dramatic centerpiece.

Included:

Panoramic Budapest

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes

Sightseeing, UNESCO, Shopping, Moderate

Hungary’s Graceful and Inspiring Capital

Take in one of Europe’s great cultural capitals and see its iconic sights. Over the last few decades, Budapest has reemerged as one of the continent’s iconic cities, divided by the Danube River and connected by the graceful Chain Bridge. Meet your guide for a panoramic tour, beginning in modern Pest. Along the elegant Andrássy Avenue, admire the National Opera House. Pass Heroes’ Square, a spacious plaza of monuments and statues commemorating the Magyar state. Across the river, explore the more traditional Buda side of the city. Here, visit the Castle District with its massive hilltop castle complex, the turreted Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. From the heights of Buda Hill, take in views of the famous Chain Bridge. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore the enchanting Buda Hill Castle area at your leisure, before returning to your ship.

* Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.

Keszthely & Festetics Palace

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes

Sightseeing, Meal, Moderate

Baroque Splendor and Cultural Heritage

Explore the stately elegance of the Festetics Palace and the beautiful surroundings of Keszthely. You will travel by motor coach to the Hungarian town of Keszthely, located along the shores of bucolic Lake Balaton. Here, enjoy a guided tour of the baroque-style Festetics Palace, the former home of one of Hungary’s most important noble families and that now hosts the Helikon Palace Museum. View the Noble Interior Exhibition, featuring 20 rooms adorned with original objects and period furnishings that showcase the lifestyle of the Festetics family during the 18th and 19th centuries. The highlight is Hungary’s only surviving private library of the nobility, housing more than 80,000 volumes. Afterward, savor a delicious lunch of local fare in Keszthely.

* Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.

Day 12 : Budapest, Hungary

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.